Regions

WACKER’s operations are highly international. Of the Group’s €4.98 billion in sales in 2018 (2017: €4.92 billion), we generated 82.5 percent through international business (2017: 83.4 percent). Germany accounted for 17.5 percent.

Sales Decline in Asia

WACKER’s sales in Asia decreased by 6.9 percent in 2018. The main reason was that WACKER POLYSILICON sold less polysilicon to China, the world’s biggest buyer of this starting material for the solar industry. That weighed on sales in Asia, which amounted to €1.76 billion (2017: €1.89 billion). In the Greater China region (including Taiwan), sales decreased by 13.1 percent to €1.05 billion (2017: €1.20 billion). WACKER did generate strong sales growth in South Korea (up 14.9 percent) and in India (up 20.3 percent). Asia accounted for 35.3 percent of Group sales (2017: 38.3 percent).

Business in Europe Grows

In Europe, a market where WACKER holds a strong position, the sales trend was positive in the reporting year. Sales climbed 6.4 percent to €2.10 billion (2017: €1.97 billion). The region accounted for 42.1 percent of Group sales (2017: 40.0 percent).

Rising Sales in Other Regions

WACKER continued to increase its sales in other regions of the world. In 2018, sales in these regions rose by 7.9 percent to €247.0 million (2017: €228.9 million) with around 40 percent generated in Middle Eastern countries. “Other regions” accounted for 5.0 percent of Group sales (2017: 4.6 percent).

Polysilicon

Hyperpure polycrystalline silicon from WACKER POLYSILICON is used for manufacturing wafers for the electronics and solar industries. To produce it, metallurgical-grade silicon is converted into liquid trichlorosilane, highly distilled and deposited in hyperpure form at 1,000 ° C.